Sensing valve



Jan. 27, 1970 FIG. 'I

J. R. FRAYLICK ETAL SENSING VALVE Filed June 22, 1356 INVENTORS. JOHN S.MANN, JOHN R. FRAYLICK 8 WILLIAM J. HANKEY BY [M .Z. @W'

, AT ORNEY United States Patent 3,491,911 SENSING VALVE John R.Fraylick, Lakewood, William J. Hankey, Brecksville, and John S. Mann,Medina, Ohio, assignors to The Standard Oil Company, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Filed June 22, 1966, Ser. No. 559,501 Int. Cl. B65d87/18 US. Cl. 220-26 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety valvewherein a body of preferentially soluble material maintains the valve inan open condition. The valve closes when the body is dissolved by thepreferential fluid. A baflle is provided in the outlet portion of thevalve for the purpose of creating a reservoir of fluid flowing throughthe valve for at least partially submerging the soluble body. The valvehas particular utility in the drain conduit for a floating roof of astorage vessel whereby the valve will provide for drainage of wateraccumulated on the roof but will close when the stored fluid enters theline, e.g., as a result of a rupture in the conduit.

This invention relates to a fluid sensing valve utilizing a foam blocksoluble in the fluid being sensed, to prop open the valve stem.

The invention constitutes an improvement of the impact check valvesdisclosed in Patent Nos. 2,910,080 and 2,962,035. The improved valvesfind unique application in volatile and non-volatile liquid storagetanks utilizing floating roofs which cover and ride up and down on thesurface of the liquid.

The floating roofs, of which there are many varieties, serve threeprimary purposes: (1) reduce costly evaporation losses; (2) greatlyincrease safety from fire; and, (3) prevent contamination of thevolatile liquid by rain Water, sleet, or snow.

The water accumulating on a floating roof is discharged outside of thetank by means of a drainage system of which there are several types. Forour purpose, we will be concerned only with the pipe and the flexiblehose types of drainage systems.

In a pipe or a flexible hose drainage system, a pipe or a flexible hoseis secured to the floating roof, generally at the center, extendingdownwardly into the interior of the storage tank, and out through thewall at the bottom portion thereof.

The modified valve is provided in the drain line portion extendingoutside of the tank. The valve remains open as long as only water isbeing drained. Should the drainage system rupture or develop a leak, thevolatile liquid, for instance gasoline, will enter the drain line andwill flow out of the tank through the valve. If an unmodified valve wereused, the contents of the entire tank would be lost. In the modifiedvalve, use is made of a gasoline soluble block which props open thevalve stem. When gasoline enters the valve, it will dissolve the solubleblock with the result that the spring-loaded valve stem will be urgedinto its closed position, thus preventing loss of the valuable volatileliquid.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a floating roof-top tank with a drainage systemand the gasoline sensing valve in the drain conduit extending outwardlyof the tank.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a valve in its open position, partiallyin section.

Referring to FIG. 1, 1 is a storage tank with a double deck floatingroof 2. One end of the flexible hose 3 com- Inunicates with a drainopening in the floating roof, and the other, with the shell nozzle inthe side wall of the tank. Shut-off valve 4, which may be a lb. or lb.gate or globe valve, is coupled to the flanged shell nozzle. Thegasoline sensing valve 5 is connected to valve 4 by means such as ascrewed flange, a bushing, and a close nipple.

FIG. 2 illustrates valve body 6 which is provided with an internallythreaded inlet 7 leading to a valve chamber 8. A radially, inwardlydirected flange 9 of the body defines a passage 10 which communicateswith the central chamber 11 having a bore 12 at its upper end, coaxialwith the inlet, and a lateral bore 13 disposed at one side. A normallyclosed drain hole 55 is provided in body 6 for draining the liquid.

The flange 9, on the side adjacent chamber 11, is provided with ashallow counterbore 14 to form supporting surfaces for an O-ring gasket16 and a valve retaining ring 15, respectively.

A unitary valve assembly indicated generally by numeral 17 comprises avalve seat or thimble member 18 having a radial flange 19 adapted torest upon the O-ring 16; a valve stem guide and spring seat 20 whichnests in the top of the member 18; a valve stem 21 which slides throughthe guide, carries a spring seat 22 intermediate its ends, and carries avalve 23 at its lower end. The upper end of the stem has a bearing plate24 disposed normally to the axis of the stem. A helical compressionspring 25 is disposed around the stem and has its ends bearing on springseats 20 and 22.

The retainer ring 15 is drawn down on the body by suitable screws whichenter the body from chamber 11, and since the ring overlaps flange 19 ofthe thimble member 18, it serves to depress the latter so as to compressthe O-ring 16 to seal the joint.

Bore 12 is counterbored at 26 to form a recess for the O-ring gasket 27.A cover or plug 28 has an axial pilot boss 29 which fits in the bore 12to complete the valve casing. A radial flange 30 extends outwardly overthe counterbore 26, and has an axially upwardly directed discharge boss31 which defines an internally threaded outlet 32. A baflle plate 54 isprovided in the internally threaded outlet 32, to trap liquid to aboutone-half of the diameter of the valve for the purpose of submerging thefoam block 40. The cover 28 is held in place on the upper end of thebody 6 by screws which, when drawn down, cause flange 30 to compressgasket 27 to seal the joint. The cover 28 is bored at 33 on the sideadjacent chamber 11 and has a counterbore 34 in which is seated a spider35 having a bearing boss 36. At one end, threaded bolt 37 has aperforated bearing plate 38, while the other end is disposed withinbearing boss 36 and is held rigidly in position by a pair of nuts 39. Agasoline soluble block 40, such as Styrofoam (polystyrene), is disposedbetween the perforated bearing plate 38 and the bearing plate 24 and ismaintained in the position shown in FIG. 2 by means of the coil spring25.

The lateral bore 13 terminates in a planar surface 41 on the exterior ofbody 1 and a cap 42 fits on said surface and is held in place thereon byscrews. The cap is provided with a groove 43, which encircles theopening 13 and receives an O-ring gasket 44 which is held compressedbetween the bottom of groove 43 and surface 41 by screws so as to sealthe joint.

The cap 42 is provided with a boss 45 and a stepped internal boss 46which is substantially aligned with boss 45.

The bosses 45, 46 are provided with a bore which receives rotatableshaft 47. The outer end of the shaft is threaded and receives a nut 48which serves to clamp an indicator 49 on the shaft. The indicator ismounted on the shaft to show either open or closed positions of thevalve. The threaded end of the shaft is preferably provided with flatswhich enter a hole of the same outline in the indicator so that theshaft and the indicator rotate in unison. The free end of the indicatoris provided with an outwardly bent projection 50.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner end of shaft 47 has pinned to it afollower or lever 51 which is bent so that its free end extends inwardlyand abuts the bearing plate 24. One end of spring 52 is attached to theprojection 50, while the other end is attached to an attachment screw53. The function of spring 52 is to spring-bias indicator 51 and shaft47 against the frictional engagement of lever 51 against the undersideof the bearing plate 24.

The operation of the valve is as follows: FIG. 2 shows the valve in itsopen position, in which the foam block 40 interposed between bearingplates 24 and 38 maintains spring 25 in a compressed condition and thevalve 23 in an open position spaced away from the valve seat thimble 18.Should the drainage hose or pipe rupture, gasoline will enter chamber 11to dissolve the gasoline soluble block 40. Spring 25 Will then urgevalve stem 21 into the dotted position of FIG. 2, in which position,valve 23 will seat on the seat thimble member 18 to shut off the flow.Horizontal movement of bearing plate 24 disengages it from follower 51.This permits shaft 47, indicator 49 and projection 50 to rotate underthe influence of spring 52. In this manner indicator 49 will show thevalve to be in its closed position.

To reset the valve, it is necessary to open the cover 42, drain thegasoline from the chamber through normally closed drain opening 55,interpose a gasoline soluble block between bearing plates 24, 38 andreset follower 51.

We claim:

1. A fluid sensing device comprising a body defining an open-endedchamber; a valve seat disposed in said chamber; a valve means, includinga stem, mounted in said chamber for cooperation with said valve seat;means for urging said valve means toward said valve seat; a rigidlymounted member extending into said chamber and being disposed in opposedrelationship to said valve means; a mass of material, soluble in thefluid being sensed, interposed between seaid member and said stem tomaintain said valve means unseated; and a baflie means provided in saidchamber downstream of said mass of material for the purpose of creatinga reservoir of fluid flowing through said chamber for at least partiallysubmerging said mass of material therein.

2. A fluid sensing device comprising an open-ended body; a valve seatdisposed near one end of said body; a valve means, including a stem,mounted in said body for cooperation with said valve seat; means forurging said valve means toward said valve seat; a rigidly mounted memberextending into said body from the other end of said body; a mass ofmaterial, soluble in the fluid being sensed, interposed between saidmember and said stem to maintain said valve means unseated; and a baiflemeans provided near said other end for the purpose of creating areservoir of fluid flowing through said device for at least partiallysubmerging said mass of material.

3. Device of claim 2 including a discharge boss di'sposed adjacent theother end of said body and being in direct communication therewithwherein said baflie means is located.

4. A fluid sensing device comprising a body defining an open-endedchamber; a valve seat disposed in said chamber; a valve means, includinga stem, mounted in said chamber for cooperation with said valve seat;means or urging said valve means toward said valve seat; a

rigidly mounted member extending into said chamber and being disposed inopposed relationship to said valve means; a mass of material, soluble inthe fluid being sensed, interposed between said member and said stem tomaintain said valve means unseated; an opening in said body incommunication with said chamber providing ingress into said chamber; aremovable cover for said opening; a rotatably mounted shaft projectinginto said chamber through said cover; an indicator mounted on said shaftexterior of said chamber; means for effecting rotation of said shaft andsaid indicator in unison; a follower mounted within said chamber on saidshaft; and means on said follower cooperating with said stem fortransmitting the position of said stem to said indicator.

5. Device of claim 4 including a baflle means provided in said chamberdownstream of said mass of material for the purpose of creating areservoir of fluid flowing through said device for at least partiallysubmerging said mass of material therein.

6. Device of claim 5 including a discharge boss disposed adjacent saidoutlet and being in direct communication therewith wherein said bafflemeans is disposed.

7. A combination comprising a storage vessel containing a fluid to besensed; a floating roof within said storage vessel supporting a body ofcontaminating fluid; a nozzle at the lower portion of said vesselcommunicating with the interior of said vessel; a drain conduitconnected to said roof and said nozzle for draining said contaminatingfluid from said roof; a sensing device positioned in downstreamcommunication with that conduit portion disposed in the vessel which issubject to inflow of the sensed fluid comprising a body defining anopen-ended chamber; a valve seat disposed in said chamber; a valvemeans, including a stem, mounted in said chamber for cooperation withsaid valve seat; means for urging said valve means toward said valveseat; a rigidly mounted member extending into said chamber and beingdisposed in opposed relationship to said valve means; and a mass ofmaterial, soluble only in the fluid being sensed, interposed betweensaid member and said stem to maintain said valve means unseated.

8. Device of claim 7 including a baffle means provided in said chamberdownstream of said mass of material for the purpose of creating areservoir of fluid flowing through said chamber for at least partiallysubmerging said mass of material therein.

9. Device of claim 8 including a discharge boss disposed adjacentdownstream end of said device and being in direct communication withsaid chamber, said baffle means being disposed in said discharge boss.

10. Device of claim 9 including a shut-0E valve between said nozzle andsaid device.

References Cited 3 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,172 4/1931 Patterson.2,347,204 4/1944 Lindsay 13767 2,630,346 3/1953 Carlson 137-67 2,765,80510/1956 Guyton 137553 XR 2,962,035 11/1960 Wright et al. 13775 XR3,074,587 1/1963 Jennings.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner RICHARD GERARD, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 13767; 5.53

